Every sport -- basketball in particular -- seems to go in spurts. That's usually because every once in awhile, a class has a considerable number of athletes playing varsity by their freshman or sophomore years.

This trend is usually more common for programs than overall sports, but it's been commonplace in boys basketball.

Consider this season a climax season for boys basketball. Look at Admiral King and Southview, for example. The majority of both lineups will have seniors who've been playing for three or four years. Vermilion has an excellent senior class returning from last season's regional run and Clearview -- although it has mostly juniors -- will be a different team next year when post standout James Washington graduates.

A lot of programs are hitting the end of strong runs, talent wise, with graduating seniors. Because of that, boys basketball as a whole, in a sense, is hitting the end of a run. That may not be a good run, but consider two Lorain County boys teams making regionals last season a big step up. I expect that step up to continue this season, but take a big step down next season.

So, go out and enjoy some high school basketball games. The regular season starts Friday and OHSAA Foundation (scrimmage) games are going on now. EC and North Ridgeville will play a good one Tuesday night.

Consider this year's senior class much like the Class of 2004 that featured Jordan Beard, Brett Bartlett and Chad Szalay. Go out and watch players like Clearview's Washington, Oberlin's Morgan Jones, Southview's Fearsome Foursome or Admiral King's Chris Kimbro and Adrian Casey.

Enjoy it. Next year, they will be gone. And so will some good basketball.